Austin news

• Smell that? Dogs deployed to detect a disease found in cattle 

  07-01-2023 22:35 via kxan.com
  
  COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) — A Texas A&M researcher is exploring how dog’s sniffers can be used to detect a disease that costs cattle ranchers an estimated $3 billion a year on prevention, treatment and production losses. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cattle – it is known to be the most common disease in about 90% of large feedlots in the US. The disease is caused by a combination of viral and bacterial pathogens
  
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• Texas Longhorns land commitment from 4-star recruit at All-American Bowl

  07-01-2023 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO (KXAN) — As the All-American Bowl was going on in front of him, Waco Connally's Jelani McDonald made a verbal commitment to the Texas Longhorns.Playing for the West team at the all-star game in The Alamodome, McDonald picked the Longhorns over TCU and Oklahoma State on live television. A two-way star for the Cadets this season, McDonald is listed as a 4-star recruit by 247Sports as a wide receiver, even though he played defensive back and quarterback this season. Co-defensive c
  
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• Texas' new secretary of state Jane Nelson takes office

  07-01-2023 21:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas has a new "chief election officer." Secretary of State Jane Nelson was sworn into the role Saturday.The former state senator previously spent three decades in the Senate and served as chair of the Senate Finance Committee since 2014. She previously was on the State Board of Education for two terms.
  Gov. Greg Abbott formally appointed Nelson to the job earlier this week. She is the 115th secretary of state.Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson was sworn in by Texas Supr
  
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• Police: Texas woman offers sex over Snapchat to lure man into ambush robbery

  07-01-2023 20:52 via kxan.com
  
  WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Texas duo was arrested after allegedly robbing a man they lured to an apartment with the promise of sex in exchange for money, police said.Stephanie Navarro and Francisco Martinez Jr. were arrested on charges of aggravated robbery, credit card or debit card abuse and engaging in organized criminal activity, according to Hidalgo County Jail records.On Dec. 22, an officer was dispatched to a stabbing, where they spoke to a victim, a probable cause affidavit
  
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• Post office named after slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén

  07-01-2023 20:50 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A U.S. Post Office will bear the name of slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén.A bill sponsored in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia, a Democrat who represents Texas' District 29, was introduced in 2021. In the Senate, the bill was backed by Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.
  On Thursday, President Joe Biden's signature authorized the bill into law, designating the postal facility at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston to be
  
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• Sore throat, runny nose no longer common COVID symptoms

  07-01-2023 20:46 via kxan.com
  
  KSNF/KODE — With new COVID strains striking at regular intervals and the symptoms related to the infection also changing over time, it is now hard to identify the disease. As the cases rise this winter, several studies have identified a new symptom of the coronavirus that is completely different from those existing already like runny nose, loss of taste and smell, fever and sore throat, etc.Loss of smell and taste, high fever and breathlessness were regarded as the ‘classic’ sy
  
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• Muscle aches, pains now among top COVID symptoms

  07-01-2023 20:46 via kxan.com
  
  (Image courtesy: Getty Images)Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the original publication title: "Sore throat, runny nose no longer common COVID symptoms," and to correct the original subtitle: "COVID symptoms have changed… again." Both titles are contradictory to a linked study in the story. We regret the error.KSNF/KODE — According to ZOE Health Study (a health science company staking claim to running the "world's largest COVID science project with over four mil
  
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• These eateries were ranked the best BBQ spots in Texas: report

  07-01-2023 20:43 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KDAF) — Eating in the state of Texas is just as important as high school football, except it's year-round and you can do it seven days a week compared to Friday nights and the occasional weekend playoff game.Texas barbecue might be just as important to the state as baking is to the French or how much New York loves its pizza, it's a way of life for so many in the Lone Star State. So, where can you get the best BBQ in Texas?We checked out a report from Texas Barbecue on the Top 25 s
  
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• Romance novelist fakes suicide, returns to Facebook

  07-01-2023 20:41 via kxan.com
  
  KSNF/KODE — A romance novelist has been accused of faking her own suicide after posting that she was alive two years after a social media status from her account announced her death, USA Today reported. Susan Meachen sparked a furious reaction from other self-published writers after announcing she was alive and had simply needed a break from social media. “I debated on how to do this a million times and still not sure if it’s right or not. I am in a good place now and I am
  
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• What, now? Birth control, reproductive health in Texas

  07-01-2023 20:37 via kxan.com
  
  AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - In the wake of the Supreme Court's Friday decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, eliminating the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion, many across the country and the state of Texas are unclear about their options for reproductive healthcare such as birth control.The state of Texas is among those with "trigger laws" criminalizing the act of providing an abortion, which is expected to go into effect after 30 days. However, as of the time of the Supreme Cour
  
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• 78-year-old man's ear chewed off in train station attack in Oregon

  07-01-2023 20:34 via kxan.com
  
  WARNING: Details of the story may be disturbing to some readers.GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) – A gruesome fight at the last stop of a light rail train in Oregon left a 78-year-old man seriously injured, with his ear chewed off and his skull exposed.The fight happened just before 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and ended with the arrest of a 25-year-old man who recently moved to Portland from Georgia, authorities said.Gresham police and Multnomah County deputies were called to the Cleveland Avenue MAX platform a
  
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• Texas DSHS to airdrop wildlife rabies vaccine bait across the state

  07-01-2023 20:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services said it would begin its 29th oral rabies vaccination program vaccine bait airdrop.“Four Beechcraft airplanes from the Dynamic Aviation Group, Inc., and a Hughes helicopter from Texas Wildlife Services, will make 8-12 flights per day at 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level along half-mile interval lines,” the DSHS said.The DSHS said the airdrop would continue across the state for roughly two weeks, with nearly
  
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• Power mostly restored after blown electrical transformer in Leander

  07-01-2023 20:07 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Leander Police said power is restored to several traffic signals after an electrical transformer blew Saturday.
  The transformer was near Hero Way and CR 290 in west Leander.About 2,000 Pedernales Electric Cooperative customers were affected, but an outage map shows 173 remaining outages as of 2:45 p.m.PEC tweeted most customers' power was restored as of 2:20 p.m.
  
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• Blown electrical transformer causes power outages in Leander

  07-01-2023 20:07 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Leander Police said an electrical transformer that blew caused a power outage Saturday, leading to several light signals out.
  The transformer is near Hero Way and CR 290 in west Leander.Pedernales Electric Cooperative's outage map shows about 2,000 outages in the area as of 1 p.m., with an estimated restoration time of 3:15 p.m.LPD reminded drivers to treat unlit signals as a four-way stop intersection.
  
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• APD requests help to find 2 suspects connected to an October armed robbery

  07-01-2023 19:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police said detectives were looking for two suspects after an October armed robbery in north Austin.APD said the robbery occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. Oct. 18 in the 1700 block of Rutland Drive.According to a release, the suspects approached a man who was waiting for his co-worker in a parking lot. While armed with a handgun, they demanded the victim’s wallet.“They brutally attacked the victim by hitting him in the head before taking his belongings,&rdqu
  
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• New study reveals the 10 most Instagrammable cities in Texas

  07-01-2023 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  Everything really is bigger in Texas. According to a new study, the state's most picturesque cities have amassed over 100 million Instagram posts with hashtags dedicated to their locale.Texas has its fair share of photogenic spots that fill the grids on Instagram. Research done by TexasRealEstateSource.com analyzed Instagram hashtag data for the metropolitan areas in Texas to reveal the most Instagrammable cities in the Lone Star State. So tip your hat to the top ten cities, and ponder
  
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• Rain/storms possible through early Sunday morning

  07-01-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Despite limited rain so far today, we expect shower and storm possibilities to increase as we head through the rest of the afternoon and into tonight.
  While the highest chances for heavier rain and stronger storms will be in our Eastern Counties, rain chances will go up for the Austin Metro tonight as well. IN DEPTH: Darkest mornings of winter have arrived in TexasThe Storm Prediction Center has placed our eastern counties under a MARGINAL risk for severe thunderstorms this even
  
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• Rain and thunderstorms later today but more numerous tonight

  07-01-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Clouds returned during the overnight hours along with some patchy fog and drizzle. An upper-level area of low pressure and a cold front lead to a chance of mainly rain this afternoon along with a few isolated thunderstorms. IN DEPTH: Darkest mornings of winter have arrived in TexasOvernight showers and thunderstorms likelyThere will be a higher probability of rain and thunderstorms tonight. Most of the thunderstorms will be along the interstate eastward. The Storm Prediction Cen
  
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• Texas Senate to ban reporters from chamber floor

  07-01-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Texas Senate will bar news reporters from the chamber floor in the upcoming legislative session, which begins Tuesday, continuing a measure introduced two years ago as a COVID-19 precaution even as state officials publicly rail against other requirements to reduce the spread of the virus.The news was first reported by The Dallas Morning News. In an email to the newspaper, Patsy Spaw, the Senate secretary, said press access in the chamber has not changed si
  
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• Kevin McCarthy secures Speakership after historic floor battle

  07-01-2023 06:40 via kxan.com
  
  He got the gavel.Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) became the 55th Speaker of the House in the midnight hour on Saturday, ending a historic four-day, 15-ballot stalemate caused by a group of 20 hardline conservative members — and fulfilling the California Republican’s longtime goal.The final vote, on the 15th ballot, was 216 for McCarthy, 212 for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and six present votes. With the present votes, he needed 215 votes to win.McCarthy's securing of th
  
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• APD investigating homicide on East Stassney Lane

  07-01-2023 05:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department says that they are investigating a homicide on East Stassney Lane, according to a tweet from the agency's Twitter account.The tweet states that the investigation is happening in the 500 block of E. Stassney Lane.APD held a media briefing, where an APD sergeant said that the victim was a Black or Hispanic woman in her mid-20s. The identity of the victim is being withheld until her next of kin has been notified.According to APD, officers initially
  
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• APD investigating homicide on E Stassney Ln.

  07-01-2023 05:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department says that they are investigating a homicide on E Stassney Ln., according to a tweet from the agency's Twitter account.The tweet states that the investigation is happening in the 500 block of E Stassney Ln.APD is holding a media briefing on the case at 10:45 p.m.This is a developing story. KXAN will update this article as information becomes available.
  
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• South Austin panadería embraces 'Dia de los Reyes Magos' tradition with Roscas

  07-01-2023 04:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A south Austin panadería embraces an annual Mexican tradition to celebrate the end of the Christmas holiday with 'Dia de los Reyes Magos," or 'The Feast of the Epiphany,' by baking Rosca de Reyes cake.Mi Tradicion Panadería's Daniel Guevara said most of the customers are Hispanic. However, he said the Rosca cake is becoming more popular, and more people from the community embrace the Mexican tradition.
  Rosca de Reyes cake is a Mexican tradition at this south A
  
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• Austin FC unveils 2023 preseason schedule

  07-01-2023 04:47 via kxan.com
  
  Believe it or not, the Verde and Black will be back in action later this month. Austin FC announced the Club's preseason schedule for 2023 that will begin January 21.After the historic 2022 campaign that saw Austin FC surge into the Western Conference Finals, expectations will be high at Q2 Stadium. The team's first time playing at home in the new year will be Saturday February 4 against El Paso Locomotive FC. Both of Austin's home preseason matches will be held at St. David's Performance Center
  
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• Efforts with local organizations continue to get homeless people off the streets

  07-01-2023 03:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Efforts continue to get people off the streets and into housing, but is it working?For the last six months, Jamie Hammonds has made it a mission to document where homeless encampments are popping up in Austin. He started a group called Documenting Austin's Streets and Homeless (DASH).
  While DASH is not affiliated with the City of Austin, Hammonds hopes to raise awareness about what he sees on his outings."Raising awareness is a big part of trying to get these folks som
  
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• 66,000 could lose access to this Austin hospital network at the end of the month. Is your coverage changing?

  07-01-2023 03:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says 66,000 of its insured patients received care at Ascension hospitals and surgery centers in the last year - ongoing contract negotiations between the companies could end access to those healthcare facilities if there is no agreement.A statement from Ascension Texas to KXAN said the current agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas will end at the end of January.We reached out to the the hospital system after several policy holders me
  
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• Where the Jan. 6 cases tied to Central Texas stand 2 years later

  07-01-2023 02:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After protesters stormed U.S. Capitol two years ago, several Austin-area suspects were charged in the attack; here are the most recent updates on their cases. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Here are the updates on the Jan. 6 cases tied to Central TexasGeoffrey Samuel ShoughStatus: Pled guiltyShough was the most recent arrest conected to the Jan. 6 attacks, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He was arrested March 1, 2022, in Austin.Documents said Shough pled guilty to a civil
  
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• Travis, Williamson counties move to medium COVID risk; Seven other local counties now at high risk

  07-01-2023 02:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Seven counties in the KXAN viewing area are now rated at high risk from COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while Travis and Williamson have moved from low to medium risk.Each week since Feb. 24, 2022, the CDC has assigned a "COVID-19 Community Level" to every county nationwide based on how the virus is impacting local populations.
  In the Thursday, Jan. 5 update, Lampasas and Milam counties were moved from low to high risk, joining Blanco, Caldwell,
  
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• DPS to fire Texas Ranger for inaction during Uvalde school shooting

  07-01-2023 01:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety is planning to terminate a member of the Texas Rangers unit, who had previously been suspended over inaction during mass school at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.Ranger Christopher Ryan Kindell could be the first Texas Ranger terminated from DPS for his response to the May 24 shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Nearly 400 law enforcement officers responded that day, waiting more than an hour to breach the classroom a
  
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• Police: Teen murder suspect, victim met through app-based drug sale

  07-01-2023 01:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An 18-year-old charged with capital murder in the death of another 18-year-old met the victim through a phone app, according to an arrest affidavit filed Friday.In October, police found Andrew Johnson shot inside a crashed car near a McDonald's off of Mopac near RM 2222 in West Austin.Gun crimes involving teens spike in Austin, police data saysThe arrest affidavit for his alleged killer, Zavien Castilleja, said the two connected on the app Telegram, which Johnson used to sell ma
  
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• Rodney Terry named Longhorns' acting head coach after Beard's firing

  07-01-2023 00:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas men's basketball associate head coach Rodney Terry has been named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season after Chris Beard was fired Thursday, UT officials announced. Documents show UT firing basketball coach Chris Beard ‘for cause’“This has been a difficult situation that we’ve been diligently working through. Today I informed Mr. Beard of our decision to terminate him effective immediately. We thank Coach Rodney Terry for his
  
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• Looking back: How top Texas legislators responded to the Jan. 6 attacks

  07-01-2023 00:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It has been two years since the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Since the infamous date, the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the insurrection has laid out key information that former president Donald J. Trump sought to overturn the election results, with enough evidence for the Justice Department to consider a criminal indictment. Despite this evidence, some prominent Texas lawmakers have not publicly disavowed theories surrounding the 20
  
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